Common Foods To Avoid With Gluten

If you believe that you are gluten-intolerant, or if you want to eat a gluten-free diet for health reasons, it is important that you are aware of the common foods to avoid with gluten. What you will quickly find, however, is that the list of common foods to avoid with gluten is very long. This is why people who suffer from celiac disease, which means they are genuinely allergic to gluten, have such a decreased quality of life. That said, if you avoid gluten for health reasons only, it is not a big disaster if you “cheat” every once in a while and have something that has had contact with gluten. Cutting down may still have an impact on your overall brain function and health.

What Are the Common Foods to Avoid with Gluten?

Looking first at the starches and grains, you need to avoid:

Wheat

Rye

Wheat germ

Barley

Couscous

Bulgur

Farina

Kamut Matzo

Graham flour

Spelt

Semolina

Triticale

Then, there are the foods that often, but not always, contain gluten, which you may therefore also wish to avoid. They are:

soups

malt/malt flavoring

commercial bullion and broths

French fries, which are often dusted with flour

cold cuts

processed cheese

ketchup

mayonnaise

malt vinegar

teriyaki sauce and soy sauce

imitation bacon, crab meat, etc

salad dressings

tabbouleh

egg substitute

sausage

tempura

fried vegetables

non-dairy creamer

gravy

canned baked beans

marinades

cereals

breaded foods

commercially prepared chocolate milk

hot dogs

fruit fillings and puddings

ice cream

energy bars

root beer

syrups

trail mix

seitan

instant hot drinks

wheatgrass

blue cheeses

flavored coffees and teas

wine coolers

vodka

meatballs, meatloaf communion wafers

roasted nuts

veggie burgers

oats (unless certified GF)

beer

oat bran (unless certified GF)

There are also a number of other sources of gluten that you may not consume directly, but that people with a real gluten intolerance at least need to stay away from. These include:

cosmetics

shampoos

Play-Doh

lipsticks, lip balm

non self-adhesive stamps and envelopes

medications

certain vitamins and supplements

Last but not least, if you want to know which common foods to avoid with gluten, you also have to be aware of the terms and jargon used that refers to gluten. Foods and ingredients to avoid include:

Dextrin

Avena sativa Cyclodextrin

Hordeum distichon

Fermented grain extract

Hydrolysate

Hordeum vulgare

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydrolyzed malt extract

Phytosphingosine extract

Maltodextrin

Secale cereale

Samino peptide complex

Triticum vulgare

Triticum aestivum

Yeast extract

Tocopherol/vitamin E

Brown rice syrup

Natural flavoring

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)

Modified food starch

Caramel color (frequently made from barley)

Hydrolyzed soy protein

How to Prepare Food:

If you do not want to consume any gluten, it is also very important that you ensure your food is not accidentally contaminated with gluten. Preventing food contamination is incredibly important. To stop it, you need to make sure that every surface is carefully wiped down whenever it is touched. All pots and pans must be thoroughly cleaned using soap and water. You should use separate breadboards, toasters, and toaster bags. You should also use different jam spoons and butter knives, just to be on the safe side.

About The Author

The Knowzo Health Team is comprised of experienced medical doctors, nurses, therapists, personal trainers, and other health experts in their respective field. Our professional health team strives to produce quality, engaging content that is educational and understandable to our readers on hundreds of health and wellness topics.